Samuel de Champlain left quite a legacy behind, with his name in multiple places through the country and south of the border.
This early period led to what became the Post-Contact Wars, with the French alongside their Indigenous allies against the traditional enemies of those allies.
Weapons of the time, both European and First Nations, are represented here. The indigenous clubs would be a particularly formidable weapon.
With the easing of those wars came the establishment of New France, a permanent colony often overlooked by Paris.
Settling the colony would require people to go there. The Daughters of the King was such a concept, encouraging women to go and make families in the New World. Many descendants of the Filles du Roi are around today.
This sculpture in the distance we'll look at tomorrow. Each line represents a generational descendant of one Fille du Roi in particular.
Organizing New France was done in the seigneurial system: dividing up land primarily for agricultural uses, each managed by a person of some importance, to whom fees would be paid yearly by the settlers. Its influence is still felt today in some aspects of the Canadian legal system, as well as seen in person if you're looking at parts of Quebec from the air.
I close out today with these two items. The Croix de Saint-Louis at lower left was a military decoration. The clock dates from the New France era.
Beautiful clock.
ReplyDeleteIt is.
DeleteA club bearing down on you really doesn't bear thinking about. Blimey, that would have been a savage death.
ReplyDeleteThe bravery of those 800 or so women ( The Kings daughter) going to the new world really does make me stop to think of how confronting that must have been for them. And, if in their position, would I have done the same?
It was brave.
DeleteWell shared.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteThese weapons look more artistic than the modern types
ReplyDeleteThey do.
DeleteNice exhibition and the French must regret that they had not given their colony more attention. By the way, also a beautiful header.
ReplyDeleteIt did give the colony a chance to develop its own character.
DeleteGreat exhibit. The women settlers were very brave. Pretty clock. Take care, have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteCan you imagine what Samuel de Champlain might say of the landscape he first saw if he could see the transformation today?
ReplyDeleteHe'd be stunned.
DeleteSo much to read and learn from these exhibits. That is a beautiful clock in the last picture.
ReplyDeleteIt is.
DeleteFilles du Roi are an important part of Canadian heritage!
ReplyDeleteThey are.
DeleteMy grandkids have a long Quebec ancestry on their dad;s side.
ReplyDeleteThey have a long history.
Delete...the Europeans sure were passionate about colonizing the world.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteThose were brave women to go so far from home.
ReplyDeleteThey were.
DeleteThat clock looks like something I might see in the British Museum.
ReplyDeleteI can see that.
DeleteWhat a fantastic exhibit.
ReplyDeleteIt is.
DeleteI was aware of the daughters of the king but know very little about them.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a story, I think.
DeleteMe llama la atención, ese reloj de tu última fotografÃa.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYes, quite the clock. It is quite striking!
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteGreat post! Someday I hope to visit Paris. Your last capture is incredible I like the reflection and that’s a beautiful clock too!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI remember learning a bit about him when we went to Quebec. And love that clock!
ReplyDeleteMe too.
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